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HERO PHOTOGRAPH

The Camino Portugués

Porto to Santiago de Compostela on Foot

Eleven days on the Portuguese Way, with seventy-five miles walked over six consecutive days from Tui across Galicia to the tomb of St. James, and Porto, Braga and the Shrine of Bom Jesus do Monte before the walking begins.

Departures

Current Tours to Portugal

Upcoming departures to Portugal. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Nine stops from Porto to Santiago de Compostela

Porto, Braga, Tui, O Porriño, Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padrón and Santiago de Compostela. The first three by motorcoach, then six consecutive days on foot, approximately seventy-five miles in all, including two stages of over fourteen miles.

Itinerary · EU_PT-ES-11D-01

The Camino Portugués Itinerary

Two nights in Porto, one in Tui, then a different town each night as we walk north into Galicia, with two final nights in Santiago de Compostela. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 3

Porto and Braga

BAND 1, PORTO
The Douro at Porto
Day 1

Departure from the United States

We depart on our overnight flight to Porto.
Day 2

Arrival in Porto

Our local tour escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel in Porto. The remainder of the afternoon is free before dinner and our first overnight in the city.Dinner and overnight in Porto.
Day 3

Braga, Bom Jesus do Monte and Tui

We travel to Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, and continue to the Shrine of Bom Jesus do Monte. In 1722 the Archbishop of Braga authorized the construction of the shrine’s Sacred Way, a monumental stairway built for pilgrims to walk the Stations of the Cross in penance and contemplation, and we walk a portion of it this afternoon. We continue to the town of Tui, in Galicia, separated from Portugal by the Minho River.Mass is celebrated at the Shrine of Bom Jesus do Monte. Dinner and overnight in Tui.
Day 4 – 6

Tui into Galicia

BAND 2, BRAGA
Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga
Day 4

Tui to O Porriño

Our walking pilgrimage along the Camino Portugués begins this morning. Following breakfast we set out on foot across the Galician countryside, following in the footsteps of St. James the Apostle along both the physical road and the spiritual one. Our first day of walking brings us to O Porriño, a stage of approximately nineteen kilometres.Dinner and overnight in O Porriño.
Day 5

O Porriño to Redondela

We continue our walk from O Porriño through the woods to Redondela, a town known for its nineteenth century railway viaducts and nicknamed the Village of the Viaducts. Today’s stage is approximately sixteen kilometres, the shortest of the six.Dinner and overnight in Redondela.
Day 6

Redondela to Pontevedra

Our pilgrimage continues from Redondela to Pontevedra, a town with a well preserved medieval centre and many small squares. We visit the Capela da Virxe Peregrina, a distinctive chapel built in 1778 along the main pilgrim route from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela. Today’s stage is approximately nineteen kilometres.Mass is celebrated at the Capela da Virxe Peregrina. Dinner and overnight in Pontevedra.
Day 7 – 9

On to Santiago

BAND 3, THE CAMINO
The Camino in Galicia
Day 7

Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

We continue our walk toward Caldas de Reis, passing through the villages of Alba, A Portela and Briallos. In Alba we visit the Church of Santa María de Alba, and in A Portela we pass the Church of San Mamede. We arrive in Caldas de Reis, a town known for its hot springs at the confluence of the Bermaña and Umia rivers. Today’s stage is approximately twenty-three kilometres.Mass is celebrated at the Church of Santa María de Alba. Dinner and overnight in Caldas de Reis.
Day 8

Caldas de Reis to Padrón

Today’s route takes us through San Miguel de Valga, Cimadevila and Fontelo, along the Ulla River, to Padrón. We visit the Church of Santiago de Padrón, an important stop for pilgrims, where beneath the altar rests the Padrón, the granite mooring stone said to have secured the boat that carried the body of St. James the Apostle. We overnight in Padrón, the place where the Apostle is said to have first preached the Gospel in this land. Today’s stage is approximately nineteen kilometres.Mass is celebrated at the Church of Santiago de Padrón. Dinner and overnight in Padrón.
Day 9

Padrón to Santiago de Compostela

Today we complete the walking portion of our pilgrimage. Leaving Padrón, we pass the Church of Santiago and the Collegiate Church of Iria Flavia before continuing through Osebe and O Milladoiro, watching for our first glimpse of the Cathedral’s spires in the distance. After a stop for lunch we complete our walk and arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where we pause in quiet prayer of thanksgiving for having been kept safe throughout our walking pilgrimage. Today’s stage is approximately twenty-five kilometres, the longest and the last.Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.
Day 10 – 11

Santiago de Compostela

BAND 4, SANTIAGO
The Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela
Day 10

Santiago de Compostela

This morning we visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a masterwork of Galician granite blending Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles and rich with sacred art. Following long-standing pilgrim custom, we embrace the statue of St. James at the entrance before descending to the crypt to venerate the relics of the Apostle, Patron of Pilgrims. After free time for lunch we continue with a sightseeing tour of the city, taking in the Obradoiro Square, Fonseca Palace, Gelmirez Palace and Franco Street. The evening is free before a final dinner together.Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and overnight in Santiago de Compostela.
Day 11

Return Home

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
IMMERSIVE PHOTOGRAPH, THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Santiago de CompostelaThe cathedral at the end of the road, where pilgrims have arrived on foot for more than a thousand years.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
GALLERY 1, PORTO
São Francisco, Porto
GALLERY 2, BOM JESUS
The Sacred Way, Bom Jesus do Monte
GALLERY 3, TUI
The Minho at Tui
GALLERY 4, PONTEVEDRA
Capela da Virxe Peregrina, Pontevedra
GALLERY 5, PADRÓN
The Padrón stone
GALLERY 6, SANTIAGO
Obradoiro Square, Santiago

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to walk the Camino Portugués?

Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable months for walking, with mild days and long light. High summer can be hot on the longer stages, and winter brings rain to Galicia. We are glad to talk through the timing with you, since the weather matters more on a walking pilgrimage than on a coach one.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

How much walking is involved, and do I have to walk every day?

The walking covers approximately seventy-five miles over six consecutive days, and two of those stages are over fourteen miles. It is a real undertaking and pilgrims should prepare for it. The motorcoach travels with the group throughout, so anyone who prefers a shorter day, or a day off their feet, can ride ahead to the next town and rejoin the group there.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Portugal?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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